In a concerted effort to improve the adjudication of justice in cases of sexual violence crimes, a workshop held on September 16^th saw the participation of key stakeholders from the law enforcement and judiciary. The primary objective of the workshop was to foster collaboration among professionals within the justice chain. Key areas of focus included the qualification of sexual violence crimes, standards of evidence, and the numerous challenges confronting the administration of justice in cases involving sexual violence.

This initiative aligns with the implementation of the GREVIO baseline report on Georgia published in November 2022, contributing to its realisation. The report highlighted significant concerns regarding the burden of proof required in rape cases within the country's legal system. GREVIO, the monitoring body of the Istanbul Convention of the Council of Europe, called upon Georgian authorities to swiftly identify and rectify legislative and procedural factors contributing to the high threshold for proving rape in court. Importantly, these changes should be made while prioritising the principle of avoiding secondary victimisation during the investigation and judicial processes.

During the workshop, participants engaged in discussions aimed at identifying opportunities for coordination and innovative solutions to overcome existing challenges in handling sexual violence cases. Judge Natia Barbakadze drew attention to international standards, including those outlined in the Istanbul Convention, the GREVIO baseline report on Georgia, and case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) concerning the adjudication of sexual violence crimes. The workshop attendees explored practical avenues for implementing these standards at the national level.

"The collaborative working meeting involving investigators, prosecutors, and judges will foster a cohesive and accurate understanding of the qualification of sexual violence crimes and the standards of evidence in alignment with the Istanbul Convention. This effort will also contribute to developing investigative, prosecutorial, and judicial practices to meet international standards and best practices", said Ms. Londa Bichikashvili, Deputy Head of the Department for Supervision of Prosecutorial Activities and Strategic Development of the General Prosecutor Office of Georgia.

Ms. Marina Khvachadze, Head of the Analytical Division at the Supreme Court, positively assessed the workshop, commending its outcome-driven nature, as well as the diverse participation from various agencies, including prosecutors, investigators, and judges across different levels.

The workshop was organised in the framework of the Council of Europe Project “Promoting an Integrated Approach to End Violence against Women and Enhancing Gender Equality in Georgia"  and the UN Joint Programme for Gender Equality, funded by Sweden.